The Business Council of Fairfield County

NEWS & EVENTS

The Business Council of Fairfield County
to be Honored with Silver Quality Improvement Award
for Alert System Used in Stamford Blackout

Stamford, Connecticut; October 19, 2006 - - The Business Council of Fairfield County has been honored with the 2006 Silver Connecticut Quality Improvement Award Innovation Prize for the Fairfield County Business Alert, an emergency communication system.

“We are very pleased to be recognized by Connecticut’s Quality Improvement Award Partnership,” stated Christopher Bruhl, President & CEO, The Business Council of Fairfield County. “Our members have worked hard with area municipalities to initiate and perfect this system. Emergencies are never a good thing, but they are a reality and our business community needs to be prepared for them. The Business Alert network serves to strengthen both Fairfield County businesses and communities.”

The Fairfield County Business Alert (FCBA) is an innovative communications network allowing users to exchange timely information during an emergency to protect people and minimize business interruption. The Alert has been active for over two years and has been used successfully in a variety of exercises, most notably during the 2005 congressionally mandated security exercise “TOPOFF 3.” The system was used operationally for the first time during Stamford’s recent blackout.

“Once the Governor and Connecticut Light and Power notified us of the need for power reduction in downtown Stamford, we were able to communicate with companies immediately via the Business Alert so they could prepare for power loss,” stated Tanya Court, Director of Public Policy and Programs, The Business Council of Fairfield County.

"In seconds, 88 individuals and 208 of their contact points received the request to reduce power,” said Jennifer Kearney, Global Security Department, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Vice-Chair, The Business Council’s Security & Crisis Management Leadership Forum. “As a result, businesses were able to respond immediately. A year ago, this would not have been possible.”

Volunteer leaders of The Business Council of Fairfield County’s Security and Crisis Management Forum recognized the need for a private-public sector direct communication network during their participation in a tabletop exercise sponsored by the United States Department of Homeland Security in 2003. Financial support to develop and operate the system has been provided by member firm PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

"The PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP Global Security Department believes strongly in public/private cooperation,” stated Don Hubbard, Managing Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers Global Security. “We are delighted to have helped in this cooperative effort.”

The system, using technology created by Send Word Now, works by sending messages to hundreds or thousands of users, via any communication device, simultaneously. Registered users can receive messages within seconds, on up to ten devices. Messages sent by phone have the ability to bridge the user directly into a conference call. The alert system was used twice, as the region experienced days of crisis-level energy demand during record high temperatures that ultimately caused systemic failures in the Stamford business district.

“Partnering with The Business Council to bring this technology to the Fairfield County business community has been a real success,” stated Michael Wathen, Office Managing Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. “The work of both the public and private sectors is to be commended and we look forward to collaborating with other businesses and municipalities as we move forward.”

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About The Business Council of Fairfield County
Over the past decade, The Business Council of Fairfield County has emerged as a nationally respected and influential regional network of business leaders, committed to strengthening the economic vitality of our region and the performance of its member firms through research-based public policy initiatives, information services and network building programs. It was formed in 1970 by the merger of three existing organizations, the oldest of which had been founded in 1890. Today, The Business Council of Fairfield County is a private, not-for profit corporation governed by a volunteer board of senior executives and served by a professional staff. It has more than 400 corporate and non-profit institution members and 1100 professional affiliate members.

About The Connecticut Quality Improvement Award Partnership, Inc.
The Connecticut Quality Improvement Award Partnership, Inc., a Connecticut nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation, is an active partnership among the private sector, state and municipal government, and the educational community, which annually sponsors a three-tiered awards program that recognizes organization for their accomplishments. The Connecticut Quality Improvement Award, Inc., America’s first state-level quality award, was founded in 1987 utilizing the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for Performance Excellence criteria in an effort to advance innovative programs that improve quality, performance, and marketplace competitiveness. Since 1987, the Connecticut Quality Improvement Award (CQIA) has been the State’s annual quality awards, recognizing Connecticut manufacturing and service companies that excel in managing quality improvement for business success and growth. Beginning in 1995, health care, education, government and other not-for-profit organizations became eligible to apply along with manufacturing and service companies.

About Send Word Now
Send Word Now is the leading provider of user friendly, secure, on-demand notification and incident management services. Fortune 1000 and government organizations depend on Send Word Now's services to coordinate resources and safeguard people during critical, time sensitive and unexpected events. The easy-to-use, web-based solution ensures smart, effective organization-wide coordination in real time, improving day-to-day business operations and ensuring continuity during crises. Anywhere, anytime, regardless of location or device connection. The company is headquartered in New York City. More information about Send Word Now can be found at http://www.sendwordnow.com.

The Business Council of Fairfield County
One Landmark Square, Suite 300
Stamford, CT 06901-2679
General Phone: (203) 359-3220
Fax: (203) 967-8294
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